30 October 1997 Edition
Scoil An Droichid opened
30 October 1997
The first ever Irish language primary school to serve South and East Belfast, Scoil An Droichid, was opened on Monday 27 October by Eamon O'Cuiv, TD Minister for the Islands at the Ministry for the Gaeltacht in the Dublin Government. Free article
Be extra vigilant, SF warns
30 October 1997
Sinn Fein chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin has warned republicans and nationalists to be extremely vigilant following confirmation that the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) has split and the news that a loyalist gang stalked Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams as he launched a book on the Falls Road two weeks ago. Free article
US denies bail to H Block escapers
30 October 1997
Kevin Barry Artt, Pol Brennan and Terry Kirby, three H Block escapers currently fighting extradition proceedings by the British government were denied bail by a US court this week for the second time. Presiding Judge Legg refused to grant bail despite petitions from the Dublin government and Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness. Given the present Irish peace negotiations and the fact that all three men had previously been granted bail, their continuing detention seems all the more arbitrary. Free article
Inquest collapses in chaos
30 October 1997
The inquest into the SAS killing of INLA member Alex Patterson collapsed in confusion last week when the jury was sacked by the coroner. Free article
Larne attacks continue
30 October 1997
A Catholic man whose home was petrol bombed by Larne loyalists last Thursday 23 October says he, his girlfriend and two young children were lucky to get out of the blazing house alive. This was the second time in as many months that the family of four from have come under loyalist attack. In September the man's house was wrecked and his car and his girlfriend's car were wrecked, with UVF slogans being spray painted on the cars. Free article
Children assaulted by RUC
30 October 1997
Thirteen year-old Sheena Officer was assaulted by an RUC man during a peaceful Sinn Fein Youth picket on the Oldpark Road in North Belfast last Thursday 23 October. During the incident, in which the picket was prevented from reaching Oldpark RUC barracks, RUC men shouted sectarian abuse at the protesters. Free article
US committee slams British human rights record
30 October 1997
``Illegal, unjust and inhumane'', were the words chosen by US Congressman Christopher Smith to describe the British government's record in the North of Ireland. Smith, recently returned from a fact finding tour of the Six Counties, blasted the British government, the RUC and the Diplock Court system for failing to guarantee the equal protection of rights to both the Portestant and Catholic communities. Free article
Derry Council discriminates
30 October 1997
In a landmark judgment by the fair employment tribunal, Derry City Council is being forced to defend an unprecedented case of anti-Catholic discrimination, currently being heard in Belfast. Free article
Dockland Development - who are the real winners?
30 October 1997
This is the title of Sinn Féin's submission which was presented to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority by local representative Daithí Doolan. The submission outlines how the multi million pound plan for the Docklands area can best benefit those most affected by it. Free article